Debris Collection Mat With Transverse Barrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing debris collection devices, such as mat-like structures, often experience a loss of collected material due to abrupt deceleration, which limits their efficiency and requires gentle movement to prevent debris from falling back through the openings.
Innovation Solution
A debris collection device featuring a flexible planar member with openings and a transverse barrier that extends upwardly behind the opening, inclining rearwardly to facilitate debris flow onto a collection surface while inhibiting its return under deceleration, using a conformable matting material with bristles to effectively sweep debris onto the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a mat-like structure with openings is used for debris collection, then the device can effectively collect debris from the ground surface, but collected debris falls back through the openings during abrupt deceleration
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into functional zones: a collection zone with openings for debris intake, a transition zone with the transverse barrier wall, and a retention zone on the upper surface. This segmentation allows debris to be efficiently collected while preventing its loss during deceleration.
Solution Approach 2:
A transverse barrier wall extending in the widthwise direction is introduced at the rear of the openings. This wall creates a three-dimensional barrier that blocks debris from falling back through the openings during deceleration, while not interfering with the forward sweeping action.
2Ease of operation
If the device is moved over the ground surface, then debris can be collected onto the upper surface, but abrupt deceleration causes debris to fall back through the openings
Solution Approach 1:
The transverse barrier wall is positioned in advance at the rear of the openings to preemptively prevent debris from falling back during deceleration. This preliminary protective structure ensures debris retention even when abrupt deceleration occurs, eliminating the need for gentle operation constraints.
3Loss of substance
If a transverse barrier wall is added to prevent debris loss, then debris retention improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transverse barrier wall is implemented as a flexible, thin element that can be integrated into the mat structure. This flexible wall provides effective debris retention while maintaining the overall flexibility and simplicity of the mat-like device, avoiding the need for rigid complex structures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively collects debris without significant loss, even during abrupt deceleration, by using a transverse barrier to prevent debris from falling back through the openings, ensuring efficient debris collection across various surfaces including asphalt, concrete, and aircraft runways.
Implementation Method 1
the first surface being disposed to then, in use of the device, facilitate rearward flow of debris from the opening along and up the first surface to be carried under momentum of the debris past the wall to the collection surface
Implementation Method 2
said second surface acting to at least partially inhibit movement of collected debris back to the opening under deceleration of the device, by pile-up of the material against the second surface
Data Source
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Figure 5
AI summary
A device (10) for collecting debris from a ground surface (18). A flexible generally planar member (17) has openings (16) therethrough. When the device is laid on and forwardly moved over the ground surface (18) debris on the ground surface passes upwardly through the openings onto collection surfaces (25) of the device. The device has transversely extending barriers (67) positioned whereby, debris passing upwardly through the openings (16) passes upwardly over the barriers (67) and then downwardly to the following collection surface (25). The barriers (67) at least partially obstruct movement of collected debris on the collection surfaces (25) back into the openings (16) under deceleration of the device as it is forwardly moved over the ground surface.